In one embodiment, a method includes coupling a plurality of virtual machines to a plurality of peripheral devices via a central switch where the plurality of virtual machines are running a plurality of virtual desktops. A data packet is received from a virtual machine where the data packet is received in a first format compatible with a virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine. The central switch determines a peripheral device that corresponds to the virtual desktop. Then, the central switch generates a peripheral signal from the data packet that is configured to be sent to the peripheral device. The peripheral signal is in a second format compatible with the peripheral device and different from the first format. The peripheral signal is sent to the peripheral device where the peripheral device can process the peripheral signal for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine.
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1. A method for coupling a plurality of virtual machines to a plurality of peripheral devices via a central switch, wherein the plurality of virtual machines are running a plurality of virtual desktops, the method comprising: receiving a data packet from a virtual machine in one of the plurality of virtual machines coupled to the central switch, the data packet received in a first format compatible with a virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine; determining, by the central switch, a peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices that corresponds to the virtual desktop based on identification data associated with the virtual desktop including a port number specific to the virtual desktop, wherein each peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a different virtual desktop; generating, by the central switch, a peripheral signal from the data packet that is configured to be sent to the peripheral device; and sending, by the central switch, the peripheral signal to the peripheral device via a converter, wherein the converter converts the peripheral signal to a second format compatible with the peripheral device that processes the peripheral signal for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine, and wherein each peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a single different converter.
A method for connecting virtual machines to peripheral devices using a central switch. Virtual machines run virtual desktops. The switch receives data from a virtual machine in a format compatible with its desktop. The switch identifies the correct peripheral device for that desktop using identification data including a specific port number for the desktop. The switch creates a peripheral signal from the data, intended for the peripheral device. The switch sends the signal to a converter, which changes it into a format the peripheral device understands. Each peripheral device has its own converter, and the peripheral processes the signal for the virtual desktop.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the peripheral signal is in a third format is compatible with the converter.
The method described above, where the peripheral signal is in a format specifically designed to be compatible with the converter connected to the peripheral device. So, the virtual machine data is converted into a format for the converter, and the converter converts that signal into a format compatible with the peripheral.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein: the converter is coupled to a each of the plurality of peripheral devices.
The method described above where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, in which the converter is physically connected to one of the peripheral devices. Each peripheral device is directly coupled to its associated converter.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the converter is a Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) converter configured to convert the peripheral signal to at least one of a keyboard compatible signal, a video compatible signal, and a mouse compatible signal.
The method described where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, and the converter is a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) converter. This converter specifically changes the peripheral signal into signals compatible with keyboards, video displays, and mice. It could handle one, two, or all three signal types.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the peripheral device comprises: determining identification information for the virtual machine; and determining the peripheral device that corresponds to the identification information.
The method for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch, where determining which peripheral to use involves first finding the virtual machine's identification information, and then using that ID to determine the corresponding peripheral device. The switch looks up which peripheral device is associated with that specific virtual machine.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device processes the peripheral signal without establishing a virtual desktop session with the virtual desktop via a connection using the first format.
The method for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch, where the peripheral device processes the received signal without needing to establish a separate, full virtual desktop session with the virtual machine using the virtual machine's original data format. The peripheral communicates directly with the signal converted by the central switch.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a peripheral signal from the peripheral device; determining the virtual machine in the plurality of virtual machines that corresponds to the peripheral device; generating a data packet from the peripheral signal for the virtual machine; and sending the data packet to the virtual machine, the virtual machine processing the data packet for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine.
The method for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch also includes the reverse process: The central switch receives a signal from a peripheral device. It identifies the virtual machine associated with that peripheral. The switch then creates a data packet from the peripheral signal, formatted for the virtual machine, and sends that packet to the virtual machine. The virtual machine then processes the data for its virtual desktop.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for coupling a plurality of virtual machines to a plurality of peripheral devices via a central switch, wherein the plurality of virtual machines are running a plurality of virtual desktops, and wherein the instructions, when executed, control the central switch to be configured for: receiving a data packet from a virtual machine in one of the plurality of virtual machines coupled to the central switch, the data packet received in a first format compatible with a virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine; determining, by the central switch, a peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices that corresponds to the virtual desktop based on identification data associated with the virtual desktop including a port number specific to the virtual desktop, wherein each peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a different virtual desktop; generating, by the central switch, a peripheral signal from the data packet that is configured to be sent to the peripheral device; and sending, by the central switch, the peripheral signal to the peripheral device via a converter, wherein the converter converts the peripheral signal to a second format compatible with the peripheral device that processes the peripheral signal for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine, and wherein each peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a single different converter.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for connecting virtual machines to peripheral devices using a central switch. Virtual machines run virtual desktops. The switch receives data from a virtual machine in a format compatible with its desktop. The switch identifies the correct peripheral device for that desktop using identification data including a specific port number for the desktop. The switch creates a peripheral signal from the data, intended for the peripheral device. The switch sends the signal to a converter, which changes it into a format the peripheral device understands. Each peripheral device has its own converter, and the peripheral processes the signal for the virtual desktop.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein: the peripheral signal is in a third format is compatible with the converter.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium described above, where the peripheral signal is in a format specifically designed to be compatible with the converter connected to the peripheral device. So, the virtual machine data is converted into a format for the converter, and the converter converts that signal into a format compatible with the peripheral.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein: the converter is coupled to a each of the plurality of peripheral devices.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium described above where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, in which the converter is physically connected to one of the peripheral devices. Each peripheral device is directly coupled to its associated converter.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the converter is a Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) converter configured to convert the peripheral signal to at least one of a keyboard compatible signal, a video compatible signal, and a mouse compatible signal.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium described above where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, and the converter is a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) converter. This converter specifically changes the peripheral signal into signals compatible with keyboards, video displays, and mice. It could handle one, two, or all three signal types.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein determining the peripheral device comprises: determining identification information for the virtual machine; and determining the peripheral device that corresponds to the identification information.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch, where determining which peripheral to use involves first finding the virtual machine's identification information, and then using that ID to determine the corresponding peripheral device. The switch looks up which peripheral device is associated with that specific virtual machine.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral device processes the peripheral signal without establishing a virtual desktop session with the virtual desktop via a connection using the first format.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch, where the peripheral device processes the received signal without needing to establish a separate, full virtual desktop session with the virtual machine using the virtual machine's original data format. The peripheral communicates directly with the signal converted by the central switch.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further configured for: receiving a peripheral signal from the peripheral device; determining the virtual machine in the plurality of virtual machines that corresponds to the peripheral device; generating a data packet from the peripheral signal for the virtual machine; and sending the data packet to the virtual machine, the virtual machine processing the data packet for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for connecting virtual machines to peripherals via a central switch also includes the reverse process: The central switch receives a signal from a peripheral device. It identifies the virtual machine associated with that peripheral. The switch then creates a data packet from the peripheral signal, formatted for the virtual machine, and sends that packet to the virtual machine. The virtual machine then processes the data for its virtual desktop.
15. A central switch for coupling a plurality of virtual machines to a plurality of peripheral devices via the central switch, wherein the plurality of virtual machines are running a plurality of virtual desktops, the central switch comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more processors to be configured for: receiving a data packet from a virtual machine in one of the plurality of virtual machines coupled to the central switch, the data packet received in a first format compatible with a virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine; determining, by the central switch, a peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices that corresponds to the virtual desktop based on identification data associated with the virtual desktop including a port number specific to the virtual desktop, wherein each peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a different virtual desktop; generating, by the central switch, a peripheral signal from the data packet that is configured to be sent to the peripheral device; and sending, by the central switch, the peripheral signal to the peripheral device via a converter, wherein the converter converts the peripheral signal to a second format compatible with the peripheral device that processes the peripheral signal for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine, and wherein each peripheral device in the plurality of peripheral devices is associated with a single different converter.
A central switch device for connecting virtual machines to peripheral devices. Virtual machines run virtual desktops. The switch has processors and memory containing instructions to: receive data from a virtual machine in a format compatible with its desktop; identify the correct peripheral device for that desktop using identification data including a specific port number for the desktop; create a peripheral signal from the data, intended for the peripheral device; and send the signal to a converter, which changes it into a format the peripheral device understands. Each peripheral device has its own converter, and the peripheral processes the signal for the virtual desktop.
16. The central switch of claim 15 , wherein: the peripheral signal is in a third format is compatible with the converter.
The central switch described above, where the peripheral signal is in a format specifically designed to be compatible with the converter connected to the peripheral device. So, the virtual machine data is converted into a format for the converter, and the converter converts that signal into a format compatible with the peripheral.
17. The central switch of claim 16 , wherein: the converter is coupled to a each of the plurality of peripheral devices.
The central switch described above where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, in which the converter is physically connected to one of the peripheral devices. Each peripheral device is directly coupled to its associated converter.
18. The central switch of claim 16 , wherein the converter is a Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) converter configured to convert the peripheral signal to at least one of a keyboard compatible signal, a video compatible signal, and a mouse compatible signal.
The central switch described above where the peripheral signal is converted to a converter-compatible format, and the converter is a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) converter. This converter specifically changes the peripheral signal into signals compatible with keyboards, video displays, and mice. It could handle one, two, or all three signal types.
19. The central switch of claim 15 , wherein determining the peripheral device comprises: determining identification information for the virtual machine; and determining the peripheral device that corresponds to the identification information.
The central switch for connecting virtual machines to peripherals, where determining which peripheral to use involves first finding the virtual machine's identification information, and then using that ID to determine the corresponding peripheral device. The switch looks up which peripheral device is associated with that specific virtual machine.
20. The central switch of claim 15 , wherein the peripheral device processes the peripheral signal without establishing a virtual desktop session with the virtual desktop via a connection using the first format.
The central switch for connecting virtual machines to peripherals, where the peripheral device processes the received signal without needing to establish a separate, full virtual desktop session with the virtual machine using the virtual machine's original data format. The peripheral communicates directly with the signal converted by the central switch.
21. The central switch of claim 15 , further configured for: receiving a peripheral signal from the peripheral device; determining the virtual machine in the plurality of virtual machines that corresponds to the peripheral device; generating a data packet from the peripheral signal for the virtual machine; and sending the data packet to the virtual machine, the virtual machine processing the data packet for the virtual desktop being run in the virtual machine.
The central switch for connecting virtual machines to peripherals also includes the reverse process: The central switch receives a signal from a peripheral device. It identifies the virtual machine associated with that peripheral. The switch then creates a data packet from the peripheral signal, formatted for the virtual machine, and sends that packet to the virtual machine. The virtual machine then processes the data for its virtual desktop.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
November 4, 2014
May 2, 2017
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